“Mama has also appointed herself guardian to my sisters and Georgiana,” rejoined Elizabeth with a grin. “That will draw her to the north as much as a desire to see my new home.”
“Aye, that it will,” agreed Mr. Bennet. “Then we shall accompany you.”
Mr. Bennet turned to Darcy. “As your friend has not gone two days complete without seeing my eldest, I suspect he will wish to join us.”
“That may cause problems when he musters the courage to propose, but I suspect you are correct.”
A shrug met his comment. “Perhaps he will. So long as we announced the engagement after we quit Pemberley, I do not suppose it will be any trouble.”
“Then I think we have our plan,” said Fitzwilliam. “If you do not mind, Darcy, I shall go to the north with you. Should trouble follow us there, I wish to be on hand to assist.”
“Of course,” said Darcy. “Should your father wish to depart from the city, he and the countess are welcome to join us.”
“The House of Lords is still in session, but I shall tell him.”
“NO, I SHALL NOT GOto the north yet,” said the earl when he learned of their plans to leave the city. “Yet I cannot but suppose it is for the best that you do so.”
“Do not concern yourself for what society may say about your early departure,” added Lady Susan. “The season has been a success, for you have proven yourselves capable of moving in their midst. When you return next year, they will accept you more readily.”
“That is well, then,” said William, “though I will own that I am not eager for society.”
“To state the truth,” replied the earl in a voice designed to appear conspiratorial, “I do not much care for it myself.”
Neither William nor Elizabeth said anything further to their comments, other than to thank them for their support, understood between them, as it was, that the opinions of those in society were secondary concerns at best. As it was now the end of May, the exodus from the city had begun; though most would stay a little longer, and those who threw themselves into the season the most would not depart until the end of June, news of families departing had already reached their ears.
“If I might,” said Anne de Bourgh, who had visited in the earl’s company, “I should like to see Pemberley again if it is nobother.” The woman smiled, more genuinely than Elizabeth had seen from her during their acquaintance. “As Rosings is closed to me at present and I am living with Uncle, I should not like to go to Snowlock alone.”
“Of course, you are welcome to join us,” said Elizabeth, returning her smile. “Do you wish to travel with us?”
Miss de Bourgh shook her head. “Thank you, but I shall travel with Aunt and Uncle.”
Elizabeth nodded, but a sudden thought struck her, and she remained silent for a few moments while conversation persisted around her. The discourse focused on the realities of traveling between London and Derbyshire, the logistical difficulties of transporting what amounted to a large household between locations separated by one hundred and fifty miles. The earl’s estate was only a few hours south of Pemberley, such that he was familiar with the endeavor, and he spoke to William for some time about the subject. In time, when their visitors were about to leave, Elizabeth plucked up enough courage to raise the subject.
“I beg your pardon, Lord Matlock,” said she, arresting any thought of departure, “but I have had a notion about this business with the intruder.”
Curiosity unmistakable, the earl gestured for her to continue. “Please, Mrs. Darcy. What would you like to know?”
Glancing at William to firm her resolution, Elizabeth said: “I do not mean to cast aspersions at anyone, but it occurs to me to wonder if there is a possibility closer to home that we have overlooked. Would Lady Catherine have anything to do with our recent troubles?”
Though he appeared shocked at the notion, Lord Matlock did not dismiss it at once. Instead, he looked to Anne de Bourgh, who appeared stunned by the suggestion—she did not hesitate to respond.
“Six months ago, I would have laughed at the possibility. After witnessing her behavior since Cousin Darcy died, I am uncertain.”
“Has Lady Catherine continued to be difficult?” asked William.
“I have not so much as heard a whisper from her,” said the earl.
When he looked at Miss de Bourgh, she shook her head in denial.
“Surely not,” said Lady Susan. “If Catherine was involved with that, it would imply that she had something to do with Mrs. Younge’s plot to get Georgiana alone.”
“Not necessarily,” replied William. “The intruder was discovered in the family apartments, but his target was not defined. He could have been making for Elizabeth’s chambers as easily as Georgiana’s.”
“While I cannot think that even Catherine is so depraved,” said the earl, “it is a possibility we cannot ignore without investigation.”
“It seems that I must take up the subject with Mrs. Younge,” interjected Colonel Fitzwilliam. “That is no trouble, as it has been several days since I went there to intimidate her.”
The cracking of his knuckles accompanied his jest, and the company settled for groans rather than mirth. Elizabeth had noted the man’s jovial nature often provoked him to instill a little levity into any situation of gravity, little though his comments resulted in mirth at such times.
